The Swing of Things

PK called the other day to ask me if I remembered something funny Aaron had said in the car one day. We both remembered the gist of it, but PK was wanting to know the specific words. I don't remember. We were all in the car and Rachel mentioned going to Justice and Kohls. Aaron said something like, "That is my most torturous store." It was so quick and dry and Aaron-like, we all cracked up. It probably happened sometime last winter. I have run a half marathon, bought a house, sent my husband up north for three months, traveled, gone through two dogs, started a new school year and am now running kids to and from activities so fast my head is spinning. It is a wonder I don't forget an entire kid, let alone something they said eons ago.

All the running around brings me back to the title of this post. We are officially back into the swing of things around here. Even though some kids across the country just started back to school this past week after the Labor Day weekend, mine have been back well over a month.

Rachel adjusted to middle school in, well, perfect Rachel fashion. She marched right in there with the confidence the good Lord has blessed her with and has taken on everything that has come her way. She is on the yearbook staff this year which requires her to stay after school once a week. She is playing trumpet in the band. PK plays the trumpet, so when he finally makes it back home (in five days...not that I am counting) they are going to practice together. She practices without me saying a word about it. I can tell she is learning and the notes sound less and less like a dying elephant every day.

Aaron is a different child than his sisters. He has two friends who he has had over to the house. That boy having at least one friend makes my heart sing. He had such a hard time adjusting when we first moved here. Hard to believe we have been here two years already. Well, sometimes when I am missing my peeps, it seems as though we have been here twenty years.

On the second morning of school Aaron told me, "I figured out I like school. I just don't like paperwork." I can relate. I like having a checkbook. I just don't like writing checks and the balancing act that comes along with it.

Aaron asked to sign up for the martial arts program offered at the school. "Sure!" I said. I had told the kids they were each limited to two activities one of which is Scouts, but I don't mind the after school clubs. They just stay later. It doesn't involve me trying to get three different kids to three different places at the same or overlapping times. He is also participating in chorus this year. I was really surprised when he asked to join that one. Rachel was in chorus the last two years and Aaron was eligible after the first semester last year, but he didn't want to. I think maybe it had something to do with it being Rachel's "thing" at the time. One new club this year is the Garden something-or-other Nature Club. (I have it written down, but if I get up from this spot to go look I will be side tracked somewhere along the way and won't get this post finished.) One of the teachers is a real tree hugger. I mean that in a good way. She wanted to start an environmental club and worked first hand with some people who developed a curriculum. After one day, Aaron LOVES it. He has really been into a show on Animal Planet called Whale Wars. A group of activists go fight Japanese whalers and defend whales. Aaron now has a grand plan of buying a big ship and defending whales or becoming a Navy Seal and defending the country. Either way, it's all good. Right?

This post could also be titled "Randomness" as I am recording a few thought so I don't forget how things were. That brings me back to PK and whatever Aaron said about Kohls. PK asked if I blogged about it. No. Of course, not. That would mean I actually do a good job of keeping up my blog these days. That is why I am posting some every day run of the mill stuff now. More randomness...I decided there is absolutely no television watching (at least by the children in this house) on school nights. I expected a lot of whining, but can I just say it has been WONDERFUL! The kids don't fight as much and I often catch then just making up some game and playing together. Who knew t.v. stifled creativity. If you know me well, you know I can be sarcastic. If you don't know me well, I can be sarcastic and you should re-read that line about t.v. and stifled creativity with the sarcasm I intended. I also think some of the less than desirable attitudes expressed by the offspring in this house were learned from some of the more popular shows. The attitudes are improving and I am sure there is a direct correlation.

Hannah is rocking the first grade world. Her teacher had a baby this morning, so we have a sub for the next couple months. I've needed to talk to Miss Sassy Pant's teacher about challenging her, but knowing her teacher was going to exit the premises at any moment, I was just waiting for the sub. Hannah has read chapter books along the lines of Junie B. and Magic Tree House all summer long. First graders are kept in the "easy reader" section in the Media Center at the school so Hannah is bringing home some fun books. However, she needs to bump it up a notch. She is allowed to check out two books at a time so I am going to insist that one of them be a chapter book. She is getting ready to start an after school art program. It is very artsy crafty with a little bit about different artists thrown in there. She is all about artsy crafty so this will be perfect.

Rachel has eight of her friends coming for a sleepover tonight to celebrate her birthday. Rachel and Aaron have each invited a friend to keep them out of their sister's hair. I really should have done the math on this one before I agreed. If you didn't do the math, that leaves it 13 to 1. Nice.

I had an exterminator come today and have contracted for the company to come spray quarterly for the next year. Our landlords at the previous house had a similar arrangement and it worked well. If there is any kind of infestation in between sprays, they will come take care of it. I really don't like bugs. Especially spiders, crickets, those giant Southern flying cockroaches and house centipedes. Bluch!

I discovered the t.v. series NCIS this summer. I think it is getting ready to start its eighth season. How have I missed this show until now. Love, love, love it! PK and I don't really watch a lot of t.v. We are fans of The Biggest Loser, but it comes on too late here. We usually watch it on Hulu a week late so we can watch it on an old people bedtime schedule. He better like NCIS. Just sayin'!

I am volunteering two days a week in the Media Center at Aaron and Hannah's school. I have done it in the past. There is something therapeutic about shelving those books. I am the room parent for Hannah's class this year. I like being at their school. I have my name on lists to help at Rachel's school, but haven't been asked to do anything. Of course, I will help if asked, but I am not going to push it. Rachel being in middle school and radiating all the coolness that comes with that isn't as thrilled to see me walking the hallways as her brother and sister are.

The kids and I spent last Saturday morning cleaning and organizing the garage. We pulled out the last of the stuff the previous owners left behind. I have a man coming to haul it all off on Saturday morning. Once that junk is gone, I think it will officially feel like my house.

Around here, we have blue jobs and pink jobs. Pink jobs are mine and blue jobs are PK's. I have had to do way too many blue jobs lately. I am in the middle of one that is driving me crazy. The filter for the ice maker and water in the frig needs to be changed. I can't for the life of me get the old filter out. I think the part that I pulled out is supposed to pull out the entire filter. I guess we will just forgo ice until PK gets home.

I have less than an hour before the masses descend looking for sleepover fun led by yours truly. Not to mention I have about a gazillion little pigs in a blanket to make.